Opportunity

Commercial and industrial land

By Jodi Bernard, PEI REALTOR®, CENTURY 21 Northumberland Realty. Last reviewed October 2026.

Commercial land earns nothing until something is built or leased on it. The zone, the access, and the services decide whether that can happen.

Who this suits

Builders and businesses with a defined project, and patient investors who can carry the land while approvals and construction happen.

Can you build what you want

Inside a municipality with planning bylaws, the zone and the municipality’s permits decide. Outside one, the province issues development and building permits. A new or changed access onto a provincial highway needs an entrance way permit. Ask about water, wastewater servicing, and the power available at the site.

Land-holding rules

Under the Lands Protection Act, non-residents and corporations, including resident corporations, must apply for approval if their aggregate holding will exceed five acres or 165 feet of shore frontage. Provincial cabinet makes the final decision on IRAC’s recommendation.

Questions to ask

Ask these before you price the land.

What zone is it in, and is my use permitted?
Who issues the permits, and how long do they take?
What services and power are at the site?
What was the land used for before?
Does the Lands Protection Act apply to my company?

Run the cap rate Estimate a mortgage

Related guides

Commercial zoning and permitted uses on PEI
A building can be well located and still not allowed to do what you want in it. On PEI, the zone, the permit authority, and the past use all need checking before the price makes sense.
Buying PEI commercial property from away, or through a company
On PEI, who owns the property matters as much as what it is. A non-resident, a resident company, and a company with off-Island shareholders can face different rules before they buy.
Environmental site assessments on PEI
Contamination does not show in a photograph. On commercial property, an environmental site assessment is how you find out what the ground may be carrying before it becomes your problem.

This is educational, not legal, tax, or lending advice. Ask Jodi Bernard about a specific property.